Reprints Magneto #13-17 (February 2015-June 2015). Magneto has taken on a new mission. He has decided to lead the forgotten mutants of the world and has established Genosha as his base of operation in an attempt to erase its horrible past. When S. H. I. E. L. D. comes for Magneto, Magneto has plans for S. H. I. E. L. D. and Agent Haines…and he might have more help than S. H. I. E. L. D. expects. Plus, Magneto learns that his own past cannot be forgotten and the horror of World War II have returned!

Written by Cullen Bunn, Magneto Volume 3: Shadow Games continues the solo series of the X-Men “villain”. Following Magneto Volume 2: Reversals, the collection features art by Javier Ferandez (Magneto #13) and Gabriel Hernandez Walta (Magneto #14-17).

Magneto was a pleasant surprise. Many of Marvel’s “solo” books are rather undercooked and unplanned. They simply pick a character that is popular (or the flavor of the month) and give them a series. With Magneto being such a prominent character and the popularity of Fassbender’s portrayal in X-Men: First Class, it seemed like Marvel was doing the same thing it always does by granting the character a series…but it turned into a fun, original title.

Magneto #15

This volume and the first volume of Magneto shows the character at his best. Within this volume and the first collection, Bunn isn’t tied down by big “event” series like Axis or Last Days. He is able to just grow the character and story. It works. The story is rather minimal, but it has depth in that Bunn presents a villain in a more humanistic approach. Magneto isn’t Hannibal but he also isn’t Spider-Man.

He is joined by strong art which also is very minimal. I prefer Gabriel Hernandez Walta’s art in the second part of the book to Javier Fernandez’s issue, but both artists have art that not only works together (they look very similar), but also feel more independent than many of the mainstream series.

Magneto 3: Shadow Games shows Magneto’s potential…but it all comes crashing down in the next volume. This isn’t Bunn’s fault. Bunn seemed to be crafting a story and idea with Magneto raising a nation, but events in the Marvel Universe forced this series to end unexpectedly and without a very satisfying resolution as Magneto is forced to beat back the end of the world with the rest of the heroes of the Marvel Universe. I am often critical of Marvel ignoring big events in one book only to have them effect the entire world in another book, but it is too bad that Magneto wasn’t left alone to develop. Magneto 3: Shadow Games is followed by Magneto 4: Last Days.

Follow me on Twitter @JPRoscoe76! Loves all things pop-culture especially if it has a bit of a counter-culture twist. Plays video games (basically from the start when a neighbor brought home an Atari 2600), comic loving (for almost 30 years), and a true critic of movies. Enjoys the art house but also isn't afraid to let in one or two popular movies at the same time.